Nine locals have completed Minor Hotel Group’s Explorer vocational hotel training programme.

At a ceremony held at Hotel Jen in capital Male on Tuesday, the graduates were awarded with an internationally accredited certificate. Gender minister Zeneesha Shaheed Zaki handed over the certificates.

Amongst the graduates was a person living in the Children’s House orphanage. He is set to begin employment with one of Anantara’s Maldives resorts in August.

Launched in Maldives in 2014, the Explorer programme is accredited with international certification from Australia, a leader in the field of vocational education, and is open for school leavers aged 18-21. Successful completion is awarded with a hospitality Certificate III qualification that provides the foundation for continued learning to progress towards a Certificate IV, and ultimately a Diploma in Hospitality.

The opportunity is extended to both young internal hotel candidates and external school leaver participants who combine training with real-time remunerated work experience. The year-long programme, which has since been expanded to Thailand as well, has a 70/20/10 format; 70 percent on the job learning, 20 percent social learning and 10 percent online formal classroom group training.

Each Explorer trainee is provided with a tablet allowing them access to the online learning platform that complements classroom training, ensuring a fully integrated learning experience. Upon completion they will have learnt new skills and gained experience and confidence in themselves and in an industry that contributes significantly to the well-being of the Maldivian economy.

Minor Hotel Group currently operates five properties in the Maldives, including three resorts under the Anantara brand — Anantara Dhigu Resort and Spa, Anantara Veli Resort and Spa, and Anantara Kihavah Villas. Naladhu Maldives and Niyama Private Islands Maldives are also run by the Thailand-based hotel group.